Cowboy Caviar by Lynn Yamamoto

This is fresh, healthy and delicious. People love it, even kids. You can make it ahead, so it's great for a summer party. Serve it with scoop-shaped tortilla chips, or have it on the side as a relish. I add extra cilantro, because there can never be too much cilantro!

Creole Style Butter Beans by John Spottiswood

Butter beans (another name for Lima beans) are super healthy and flavorful. I've been looking for a simple and flavorful way to cook these, and after a lot of research I found and adapted this delicious recipe. This is flavorful and hearty enough to make a full meal out of, probably accompanied by a salad or green vegetable and some…

Curry Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a surprisingly light and tangy lentil soup. If you are used to thick and heavy lentil soups, this one will surprise you. It's very tasty and was a great complement to the pizza recipe I just put up. This is also adapted from a Greens restaurant recipe.

Alton Brown Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

I adapted this recipe from one by Alton Brown. I added spinach, potatoes, and scallions and removed grains of paradise. Our whole family really enjoyed this recipe. I made it alongside an Indian curried lentil soup recipe, and while both were good, this was the hands down winner. If you're looking for a tasty, hearty, and healthy…

Curried Lentil Stew with rice by Nancy Miyasaki

This curried lentil stew is an awesome winter dish. It will warm you and sooth you with its soft texture and rich flavor. Vegetarians can leave out the bacon and ham. Those who relish Indian flavors can double the tumeric, cumin, ginger, and cloves.

Homemade Refried Beans by John Spottiswood

I'm ashamed to say that though I LOVE refried beans, this is the first time I've ever made them myself. It's just so easy to buy them in a can, or at a mexican restaurant, that I haven't bothered. But this recipe is simple and it is definitely worth the effort in my mind. I figure my kids are the true test, since they aren't that…

Yellow Split Peas with Vegetables (Dal Takari) by John Spottiswood

Wow, this is such a wonderful dish and so easy to cook! The keys to this dish are the yellow lentils, fried potatoes, and cumin seed. You can change out the other vegetables (spinach is a nice addition as it adds to the creaminess of the dish). Make sure you fry the cumin seed and potatoes over sufficiently high heat that the cumin…

Lentil Soup by Nancy Miyasaki

This is my super easy, staple Lentil soup that everyone eats and enjoys. It's healthy and mild, good for everyone.

Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk by Mihir Shah

I adapted this from a recipe I found in the San Francisco Chronicle. My parents have told me that eating Black-Eyed Peas for the New Year was good luck. I made these for my New Year's Eve party and they were a big hit. Went really well with the Steamed Salmon I prepared.

Amazing Red Lentil and Tomato Soup by John Spottiswood

I never thought I would have a red lentil soup that could match the Turkish red lentil soup that I have been served in Turkish restaurants and that I've learned to make. So I had low expectations for this Indian spiced version. It completely destroyed my expectations and was absolutely delicious. It was great last night, and I had…

Reese's Peanut Butter bites by Terri Jordan

These are the best! In fact....I am going to whip up a batch for the kids and send them for Valentines Day!

Hummus by Frosted Flaker

This is a great snack for any time of year. I personally serve it with Kalamata olives and sometimes even diced cucumber and/or bell pepper. Keep in mind that after blending, fine-tuning the mixture with slightly more tahini and/or lemon juice is often needed (see step 3). As a footnote, tahini is what gives the hummus its creamy…

Pork & Chickpea Stew by John Spottiswood

Super easy to make. Toss all ingredients in the pot (or slow cooker) and forget about it until dinner time. Healthy...and is good vegetarian with vegetable broth and no pork.

Pork and Hominy Chili by Nancy Miyasaki

Delicious Crockpot Turkey Chili by Nancy Miyasaki

This is an easy chili recipe that you can throw in the slow cooker and forget about till it's done. I made this for my family when they were out skiing, and they all raved about how good the warm chili tasted when they got back from the slopes. Easy and a real winner!